The starting point

In this invented example, a family in a Fullerton ranch home opens a water bill showing roughly twice their usual usage. Nobody has noticed anything wet inside. They worry about a slab leak because a neighbor recently had one.

Rather than calling for slab leak detection right away, they decide to run the meter checks first.

What they check

  1. Meter with everything off.The low-flow indicator moves steadily. There is a leak somewhere.
  2. House main closed.The indicator keeps moving. The leak is not inside the house.
  3. Irrigation supply closed.The indicator stops. The leak is on the sprinkler side.
  4. Valve box inspection.One valve box is full of water even though no zone is running.
  5. Yard walk.A strip of lawn near that box is soft and greener than the rest.

Narrowing the irrigation leak

  • IfWater collects in the valve box with the controller offSuspect the pressurized main line or a valve that is not sealing.
  • IfOne zone's heads weep constantlyThat zone's valve is likely stuck partly open.
  • IfWater only appears when a zone runsLook for a broken head or a split lateral pipe in that zone.

How it resolves in the example

With the irrigation supply closed, the meter is still, which buys the family time. They hand-water for a few days and ask a licensed contractor to dig at the soggy strip. The invented outcome is a cracked section of the irrigation main line just upstream of the valves, repaired with a short new section.

After the repair they run the meter test again with the irrigation supply open and the controller off. The indicator stays still. They contact the city's water billing office to ask whether any leak-related adjustment applies, without assuming one will.

Key points

First clue
Bill roughly doubled
Deciding test
Meter stopped when irrigation supply was closed
Cause
Cracked irrigation main line (invented)
Avoided
Unneeded slab leak detection

Common questions

Is this a real case?

No. It is a hypothetical example written to illustrate the process.

Why check irrigation before suspecting a slab leak?

It takes minutes and, if the meter stops when irrigation is shut, it rules out the house entirely.

Does the city adjust bills for leaks?

Ask the city's water utility. This site does not quote its policies.

General information for Fullerton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.